My oldest teacup

You know how it is: You walk into an antique store looking for an old watering can, you walk out with a new teacup. Or in this case, a very old teacup.

It's dawned on me that I have a bit of a fetish for teacups with odd handles.

And interesting feet. (Even if I don't normally like feet on teacups.) Aren't these rope handles and feet interesting?

That rope design is just the darndest thing.

And of course I can justify the purchase of anything with pink roses on it, if I try hard enough.

The backstamp on this set was a mystery waiting to be solved. All those numbers and letters! A little surfing led me here, to a wonderful source of info from a woman named Janice Paull. If I've used the decoder correctly, my Mason's cup and saucer design was introduced on Feb. 1, 1869.

Welcome to the tea cabinet, old friend!